Investigation Underway for Fire at New Mexico GOP Headquarters
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) — Authorities are currently looking into a fire that occurred early Sunday morning, causing damage to the entrance of the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters in Albuquerque. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesperson Cody Monday stated that federal agents, in collaboration with local authorities, discovered unspecified “incendiary materials” at the site. However, further details about the materials have not been disclosed.
The incident is part of a series of recent vandalism acts, including attacks on Tesla, the electric-car company associated with Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of Republican President Donald Trump. Some of these instances involved the use of Molotov cocktails to ignite fires at Tesla dealerships. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled these occurrences as “domestic terrorism.”
Occurrences of property vandalism displaying the Elon Musk company logo have been observed in various locations in the U.S. and abroad. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, lots, charging stations, and privately owned vehicles have been targeted.
The fire was responded to by firefighters before 6 a.m., and they managed to bring it under control within five minutes, according to Lt. Jason Fejer of Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Fortunately, the building was vacant, and there were no injuries. However, the entrance suffered significant damage, with extensive smoke damage throughout the office space, where three individuals are employed full-time.
A photo provided by GOP representatives displayed the burnt entrance of the building, with remnants of charred materials scattered on the ground. A damaged door was also visible on the side. New Mexico Republican Party Chair Amy Barela commended the firefighters for their swift response in extinguishing the flames and preventing further spread of the fire.
In addition to the fire incident, spray paint with the message “ICE=KKK” was found on the building’s side, approximately 50 feet (15 meters) away from the entrance, as reported by GOP representatives. ATF spokesperson Cody declined to comment on the graffiti. FBI agents were present at the scene for investigation, according to Fejer, although representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
